Quality Assurance Initiative
What is it anyway? The Quality Assurance (QA) Initiative is a faculty-centered, peer review process designed to assess the quality of online courses.
What the process is not… Not about an individual instructor Not about faculty evaluation Not a win/lose or pass/fail test It’s about the course design It’s about course quality It’s a diagnostic tool to facilitate continuous improvement of online/hybrid courses
By Show of Hands…. Familiar with the Quality Assurance (QA) Peer Review Process? Had your online course QA reviewed? Participated in a QA course review?
Our Process
Peer Course Review Feedback Course Course Meets Quality Expectations Course Revision Review Report with Faculty (along w/team chair) Select Courses to be reviewed Organize Peer Review Team Peer Review Team Paperwork Submit Review Planning Sheet to eCampus QA eCampus QA Course Peer Review Process Notify Faculty of Course Review Conduct Faculty Orientation Provide Reviewer Support Monitor Review Progress & Completion Gather Review Results Course Did Not Meet QA Provide Instructional Design Support Review Revisions w/Faculty Assist with Course Amendment Form Notify QA of “Met” Courses Notify Faculty Member, Dean & eCampus Academics
Course Alignment 5 of the 8 general standards should align: –Course Overview and Introduction –Learning Objectives –Assessment and Measurement –Resources and Materials –Learner Interaction –Course Technology –Learner Support –ADA Compliance Key components must align.
Some essential standards… A statement introduces the student to the course and the structure of the student learning Navigational instructions make the organization of the course easy to understand Learning activities foster interaction: –Instructor-student –Content-student –Student-student (if appropriate) Clear standards are set for instructor response and availability
Other Essential Standards… Assessment strategies should provide feedback to the student Grading policy should be transparent and easy for the student to understand Implemented tools and media should support learning objectives –And integrate with texts and lesson assignments The course acknowledges the importance of ADA compliance
Our Challenges
Challenges… Managing High Volume of Paperwork and files Tracking multiple aspects of each review Collecting information from Reviewers Timely processing of Review Analysis Keeping the momentum Convincing faculty this is not a formal “evaluation”
Solutions “Formally” approved internal QA Procedure Standard reporting requirements to track status of reviews (newly implemented online forms) “Getting Started” Letter Regular communication with reviewers Created Website for